Harry Potter's secret life as father, son and alias

Where to join the countdown to 'Order of the Phoenix'

June 20, 2003|By Robert K. Elder, Tribune staff reporter.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" goes on sale at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and fans around the world plan to celebrate with parties, read-ins and other festivities. Lots of bookstores are staying open to sell "Phoenix" the moment the clock stops striking.

For online information about events and activities all over the globe, start with the excellent fan site at www.the-leaky-cauldron.org. In the Chicago area, here are some of the magical festivities planned for Friday night:

The School Fair at Hogwarts

Hyde Park, 1135 E. 57th St.

10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.

In the gothic stone halls of the Reynolds Club at the University of Chicago, Muggles can enter a costume contest, win raffles for Potter merchandise, and create their own magic amulet. Also featured: a trivia table, face painting and the adopt-a-dragon program, in which kids can choose and color a paper dragon. Adults too. Hosted by 57th Street Books. Information: 773-684-1300.

Women and Children First

5233 N. Clark St.

11 p.m.-1 a.m.

Kids can come in their pj's or in costume to wait for the book to become available. The first few pages of the new Potter story will be read after the stroke of midnight, and patrons will win prizes for costumes and wizard trivia. Refreshments will be available. Information: 773-769-9299.

Oak Park Avenue

between Lake Street and North Boulevard, Oak Park

9 p.m.-1 a.m.

A portion of downtown Oak Park is transformed into Diagon Alley, the famed wizard shopping district, for the evening. Among the Potter-related food and fancy: non-alcoholic butterbeer at The Leaky Cauldron (Cafe Winberie); every-flavor popcorn and edible wands at Honeydukes (Madly Poppin'); ice-cream treats at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor (Oberweiss Dairy); goblin-conducted tours of a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank (U.S. Bank). Wizarding World Press will sponsor Wizard Chess, picking volunteers from the crowd to become human chess pieces on a larger-than-life board. Books go on sale at The Magic Tree, 141 N. Oak Park Ave., right after midnight.

The event is hosted by the Avenue Association of Oak Park. Information: 708-848-0770.

A few blocks farther down Lake Street, local bookshops Borders (1144 Lake St.) and Barbara's Bookstore (1110 Lake St.) will be open at midnight to sell "Order of the Phoenix" as well.

Borders

1660 S. Randall Rd., Geneva

7 p.m.-midnight

With the help of the North Brook Nature Center, Borders will showcase live owls in an educational presentation. If conditions allow, flight demos will be held after a Q&A session. Inside, children can make their own pine cone owls. Also: free hot dogs from 7-9 p.m., games, puzzles and lightning bolt tattoos. A large clock will count down to midnight, when books will go on sale. Information: 630-262-8747.

The Book Stall at Chestnut Court

811 Elm St., Winnetka

9 p.m.-1 a.m.

As music from the Harry Potter movies plays in the background, Muggles can munch lightning bolt-shaped cookies served with milk. A clown will entertain people in line, and at 11 p.m. a magician will perform Potter-style tricks. Information: 847-446-8880.

Anderson's Bookshop

123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

630-355-2665

Anderson's Bookshop

5112 N. Main St., Downers Grove

630-963-2665

10 p.m.-closing after midnight, both stores.

In its Naperville and Downers Grove locations, Anderson's Bookshop is encouraging "Order of the Phoenix" customers to be night owls with a Potter-related costume parade, trivia contest and tasting of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "Madame Trelawney" will be on hand to read fortunes.

Just the Bookstore

475 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn

11 p.m.-1 a.m.

While waiting for the books to go on sale, visitors can take part in a Potter trivia contest (winners get Harry Potter hats) and a raffle (prizes include chocolate frogs). Jeff Evans will read a chapter from the new book, and each child will receive a coloring book and goody bag complete with Bertie Bott's Beans. Information: 630-469-2891.